Match Preview: Montreal vs New York, April 5, 2014

The Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls have engaged in some wild contests over their brief history against each other, and another could be on offer when the clubs face off Saturday afternoon at Olympic Stadium. The clubs come into the game looking for their first victories of 2014. The Impact gained their first point of the season last week with a 1-1 draw at Philadelphia, while the Red Bulls have reached three straight draws, the last being a 1-1 home result with Chivas USA.

The Red Bulls won the last two meetings between the teams a season ago, both at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls have won all three home meetings with the Impact.

The Impact have won their last two home games vs. the Red Bulls, including a 1-0 win last March 23. The Red Bulls claimed the only road victory in the all-time series, a 2-1 win at Stade Saputo on May 19. 2012.

The Montreal Impact recorded their first point of the 2014 campaign, coming back for a late 1-1 draw with Philadelphia Union on Saturday afternoon at PPL Park. The Impact are in a tie for ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 1 point from 4 games.

LAST MATCH

Union took the lead in the 35th minute. Jack McInerney beat a defender and found Vincent Nogueira streaking into the area, and he then blasted a shot by a helpless Troy Perkins to open his MLS account in style.

But the Impact pulled even with 10 minutes to play. From a remarkable long ball played by Justin Mapp, Marco Di Vaio settled the ball on the left wing, was given time and space to move into the area then beat Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath to his left.

Impact head coach Frank Klopas made three changes to the team that fell 2-0 to Seattle Sounders FC at Stade Olympique. Heath Pearce came in at left back for Jeb Brovsky, Andres Romero started in midfield for Patrice Bernier, and Marco Di Vaio came in up top for Andrew Wenger.

The Impact goal snapped a 285-minute goalless drought, extending back to the 3-2 season-opening loss at FC Dallas on March 2.

“It's a big point for us. We had to come out with something,” said midfielder Patrice Bernier. “The first half was a little difficult, but we came out in the second half we created more chances, especially in the first few minutes. It's a great point to take after getting that red card, but we still have to look at ourselves as things are not exactly right 11 vs. 11.”

Marco Di Vaio made his 2014 season debut, coming into the team after missing the opening three games to a suspension levied following the MLS Cup Playoffs match vs. Houston last year.

Di Vaio scored his first goal of the season, following a year when he scored 20 goals in 33 league appearances, third in the MLS Golden Boot standings.

“When you have players like that, it’s just that one moment,” Impact head coach Frank Klopas said. “It’s guys that you never take off the field, because for 89 minutes, they have chances and they miss, and then ñ you saw him, he gets the ball, one special play that he can pull off. That’s why they’re guys that you never take out. Because you know that they have one magic moment in them.”

Andres Romero also made his season debut, also handed a three-match ban following the playoff game last year in Houston.

Heath Pearce made his first start in an Impact uniform, playing the full 90 minutes at left back. His last league start had come on June 23, 2013, for the New York Red Bulls vs. Philadelphia.

“With Heath, Marco and Andres in the fold now, we have a lot more options for every spot,” said Klopas. “This game was a little different. The weather conditions were not ideal, so you make decisions based on that. Patrice [Bernier] is our captain and is getting close to full fitness after missing time during training camp.”

Justin Mapp recorded his second assist of the season, having set up two of three Impact goals. “We’ve been battling hard and earned a break near the end of the Philly game. It was only one point but felt bigger than that … We want to defend our home field. We did that well last year, and we’ve discussed that this year. With two games coming up at home, it’s important that we maintain that,” Mapp said.

NEW YORK RED BULLS

The New York Red Bulls played to their third draw in a row, this time needing a late leveler for a 1-1 result with Chivas USA on Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls sit in a tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 3 points from 4 matches on the season.

LAST MATCH

Chivas USA took the lead in the first half. In the 24th minute, Red Bulls right back Richard Eckersley was whistled for a penalty kick by referee Juan Guzman after contact in the box with Chivas striker Tommy McNamara, and Erick Torres stepped up and sent his spot kick down the middle for the lead.

But the Red Bulls found a remarkable equalizer five minutes into stoppage time. Substitute Eric Alexander whipped in a corner from the left that Peguy Luyindula tracked well before snapping it home from close range for the equalizer to send New York fans into a frenzy.

Red Bulls boss Mike Petke made three changes to the team that came back for a 1-1 result with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. Armando returned to central defense in place of Ibrahim Sekagya, and Peguy Luyindula and Bobby Convey started in the midfield in place of Eric Alexander and Jonny Steele.

The Red Bulls have opened defense of their Supporters’ Shield won a season ago with a loss and three draws from their four matches.

The Red Bulls have scored two goals in second-half stoppage time, the late equalizer vs. Chivas USA the second time in as many weeks New York has come back from a goal down.

“Second half was a good response. I thought we saw some very good play, specifically certain players, and to get the goal in the end,” said Red Bulls coach Mike Petke. “But let’s put things in perspective: We tied Chivas in the 92nd minute at home. A better Chivas team than last year, for sure, but we tied Chivas at home in the 90th minute, so that’s not good enough.”

There will be two injury forced absences for the Montreal match. Tim Cahill had to leave the Chivas match before the half-hour mark. Then fullback Richard Eckersley was also forced off before halftime.

“What we’re looking at [with Cahill] is a mild hamstring strain,” said Petke. “I would hope to have him back in two weeks, but for now it seems that he will be out this weekend with a hamstring strain. … Eckersley is out. He’s definitely out.”

There is also a question as to whether striker Thierry Henry and center back Jamison Olave will play in Montreal, with the game played on an artificial surface. Both players were not in the team for the season-opening trip to Vancouver, where BC Place also has an artificial surface.

“We traditionally know what goes on with these games. However, there's always that chance, there's always the situation that we have a conversation and decide that it's a go on this turf. I'm not ready to make any statement right now, but there's always a chance,” said Petke. “Having said that, we have what I think is a deep roster. I have total confidence in whoever jumps in if [Henry and Olave] are not going to go. We've had success before in Montreal, and that's what we're looking to do this time.”

Even with the two injury changes, Petke said there could be more alterations to his team for the Impact match.

“I’m going to pay very close attention to the reserve players throughout this week because there has to come a point that some of these kids are given the opportunity they deserve,” said Petke. “I don’t want any [headlines] that I’m going to make wholesale changes, because that’s not what I’m saying. But we need some life in this team at times and we saw it in the second half, but we saw it very sparingly throughout the first four games.”